The model, which dates back to the late 1930s, is coming under increasing scrutiny. St. Louis recently retook local control over its police department, leaving Kansas City the only city in the country where a state-appointed committee oversees the police.

Forte told KMBC 9 News that the current system works because it keeps corruption out of the police department.

"My opinion is that the current governing structure is the best structure for the Kansas City Police Department and its residents," he said.

Kansas City currently funds the police department but has no control over its operations.

"Police officers always should be free to do what is best for the safety of the city without fear of repercussion from elected officials," Forte wrote in his blog.

He said he had a friend in another city where a mayoral race is underway.

"He's already been told by the mayoral candidates that he won't have a job if he gets it," Forte said.

Forte also takes issue with one of the issues that opponents of state control are raising, that the transfer might save the city money.

"It's hard to say. I haven't looked at the numbers," he said. "I can tell you now we get $1 million a year from the Attorney General's Office to help defray some costs from litigation. If we're not under state control, we're going to lose $1 million right away."

He said it would be hard to predict the type of impact local control would have over day-to-day operations without knowing who the police chief would directly answer to.

Current Police Board President Alvin Brooks said the system used to be ripe for corruption.

"The police chief served at the pleasure of the politicians," he said.

He said the state took control of the police department when the city was run by the Pendergast political machine. Nearly 75 years later, Brooks agrees that the model works.

He said the board, which is made up of Kansas City's mayor and four state appointees, works with local interests at heart.

"I wouldn't have taken it if there were any strings attached by whoever appointed me, if the governor dictated my actions," Brooks said.

He said the issue of taking back control has never been as seriously discussed as it is now, with Mayor Sly James naming a group to investigate the idea. The Mayor's Commission is expected to release a report on its findings later this year.

James issued a statement about Forte's posting late Wednesday afternoon:

"While I do wish I had the opportunity to discuss with Chief Forte his concerns about local control before learning of them through his blog, he is certainly entitled to his own opinion. I am grateful to the hardworking Kansas Citians who are giving their time and energy to the Blue Ribbon Commission on Police Governance of the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. They are giving thoughtful and thorough consideration to this issue and I look forward to their recommendations."

"The governance of our police department is an issue that touches every single neighborhood in this City and I do not take that lightly. If, and when, we make changes to that governance structure, we will do it as a community and, as always, with facts and data."

"Furthermore, police department governance is not an issue in which the city can act unilaterally. Any evolution of our current governance structure will require state legislative action or a statewide vote. Either way, this process will not conclude overnight and it’s important that we all continue the community dialogue we’ve started."